Burglar-alarm switch



July 2, 1929. G. E. SAMSEL BURGLAR ALARM SWITCH Filed Aug. 22, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE E. SAMSEL, OF MELVERN, KANSAS.

BURGLAR-ALARM SWITCH.

Application filed August 22, 1927. Serial No. 214,670.

This invention aims to provide a burglar alarm, adapted to be used inmany different ways, and soconstructed that when an ob ject of anydesired kind is moved, an audible signal will be given.

It is within the'province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the inventionappertains.

lVith the above and otherobjects in view which'will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention. resides in the combina-' tion andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in front elevation, a p0rtion of asafewherein the device forming the subject matter of this application hasbeen mounted, parts appearing in section;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram.

The device forming the subject matter of this application may be used inmany different ways, and as to the practical application of theinvention, much is left to the desires and necessities of the user. Inthe present instance, and by way of illustration, but not of necessity,the device is embodied in a safe 1. The safe need not be described ingreat detail, but, so far as material, the safe 1 includes a bottom 2and a front wall 3. A vertical partition 4 extends upwardly from thebottom 2, and a platform. 5 extends hori- Zontally from theintermediateportion of the partition 4 to one side wall of the safe. Ahingedly mounted door 6, located on the opposite side of the partition 4from the platform 5, but in the same plane with the platform, rests upona shoulder 7 formed on the front wall 3, as shown in Figure 4. The partsabove specified form a battery chamber 8, and a compartment 9 for theswitch mechanism (hereinafter described), the compartment 9 beinglocated at one side of the battery chamber 8, as shown in Figure 1,there being a storage space 10in the safe, above the compartment 9.

A base plate 11 is mounted on the bottom 2 and is located. in thecompartment 9. A ball bearing 12 is secured to the base plate 11. Avertically swinging lever 14, in the form of a plate, is provided, andthelever 14 is supplied with a depending inverted U-shaped bracket 15carrying a shaft 16 mounted in the ball bearing 12, the constructionbeing such that the lever 14 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends forvertical swinging movement. An insulated switch terminal 17, in the formof a pedestal, is mounted on one end of the base plate 11, and isadapted to cooperate with an insulating switch terminal 18 on one end ofthe lever14. The lever 14 carries an off-set calibrated rack 19 on whicha weight 20 is adjustable, longitudinally of the lever, the weight 20being held in place bya set screw 21, threaded into the weight, andadapted to bear upon the rack 19. The weight 20 serves to tilt the lever14,- so that the terminal 18 may come into contact with the terminal 17thereby to close the signal circuit hereinafter described.

A plunger or operating member 22 is slidable in the platform 5 and isprovided at its upper end with an enlarged head 24, the lower end of theplunger 22 being adapted to cooperate with a buffer 23 on one end of thelever 14. Downward movement of the said end of the lever 14 is limitedby a stop 27 mounted on the base plate 11 and adapted to engage the saidend of the lever. In the compartment 9, at one side of the switchmechanism above described, is located. an audible signal 28, which maybe a horn, A battery 29 is disposed in the battery chamber 8, below thehinged door 6. From one side of the battery 29, a conductor 30 leads toa switch 31 mounted in the partition 4 and located below the door 6. Aconductor 32 extends between the switch 31 and the switch terminal 18 onthe lever 14. From the switch terminal 17 on the base plate 11, aconductor 33 leads to the signal 28, and the signal 28 is connected tothe battery 29 by a conductor 34.

In practical operation, the manually operable switch 31 is closed, and atray or other object, shown at 26, is placed on cleats 25 in the storagespace 10. The object 26 depresses the operating member or plunger 22,and the lever-14 is tilted until one end of the lever engages the stop27, the switch terminals 17 and 18 being spaced apart, and the signalcircuit being open at the terminals 17 and 18. If a person removes theobject shown at 26, then the lever 14 tilts under.

the actuation of the weight 20, and the terminal 18 is carried down uponthe terminal 17, the simple signal circuit being closed, and the signal28 being caused to sound. In this way, watchmen or others who happen tobe about, will be admonished that the object shown at 26 is beingremoved, and will govern themselves accordingly. I

A person familiar with the operation of the device can raise the hingeddoor 6 and operate the switch 81;, to open the signal circuit, therebyto prevent the horn 28 from sounding, even though there be no object incontact with the plunger 22, and even though the lever 14 may havetilted to bring the terminals 18 and 17 togetl'ier. The switch 31 islocated below the door 6 and is concealed, s0 that a person unfamiliarwith the operation of the device, and desiring to steal the object shownat 26, will not be likely to open the circuit by the manipulation of theswitch 31, before removing the object indicated at 26. Owing to thepresence of the adjustable weight 20, a quick closing together of theterminals 18l7 is assured, and a proper adjustment may be efiected sothat the right-hand end of the lever 14: in Figure 1 may not swingdownwardly and close the signal circuit, if the objectengaging the upperend of the plunger 22 happens to be light.

WVhat is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, a lever, a rack extendedlongitudinally of the lever and secured thereto, a weight slidable foradjustment along the rack, the rack being offset laterally from thelever thereby to offset the weight laterally from the rack and to renderthe weight accessible for adjustment along the rack, a stop underneathone end of the lever, cooperating switch terminals underneath theopposite end of the lever, one switch terminal being fixed, and theother switch terminal being mounted on the lever, a bearing supportedunderneath the lever, a depending U-shaped bracket secured to theintermediate portion of the lever and elevating the lever to afford roombeneath it for the stop, the switch terminals, and, the bearing, thebracket straddling the bearing and having its lower ends engaged withopposite sides of. the bearing thereby to afford a steadyfulcrum-support for the lever notwithstanding the aforesaid offsettingof the rack and the weight.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

GEORGE E. SAMSEL.

